Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-25

constrained TO admit the force OF ner
views.
"Brt what is to be done, my love
What is to be done? Am l." he de-
manded with dramatic tone and gesture.
"to entertain, even for an instant, the
distrncting thought of losing you "
The sweetest Of smiles treasured HIM ;
and in the effusion of his delight ne
vowed 10 be guided in everything 9y
her sweet instinct. What would sue
advise or rather, command 2-for her
slightest suggestion would be com
maDd.
She showed him how clearly she
grasped the difficulty. She confessed
that she had been afraid of this hostility
on Polly's part, as being often the case
with grown girls in such circumstances.
She was not therefore surprised. What
they should do now was to walt-to
postpone their happy union indefinite
" until Miss Hinton should be "set-
tied"
The f,ther rapidly reviewed tn list
OF society men who were wont to honor
his table, but none of them had been
pronounced enough in his admiration
to afford basis for hope. a girl can
not be "settled without o suitable Sc
cond party TO the settlement Mr..
Hutton knew OF none at present, and
to wait indefinitely was full OF risk and
unhappiness. The client might change
her mind, or Polly, out OF pur' wliiu!,
ness. MIGHT remain where she was and
refuse to be " settled.
Upon my soul !" exclaimed the dis
tracted man. 81 have half a mind to
let that young rascal Hammond mar
ry her after all
"Who is Mr.. Hammond 2 the lady
asked, with interest.
Mr. Hinton informed her all about
him. Hammond was well enough while
they lived at Chaplain but Polly was
an ieiress now. and of course that put
him out Of the question. To the sollcl-
tors surprise, and at first little to his
annoyance, the lady contested this
view with animation. If Mr.. Ham
mond were eligible in other respects
Polly's fortune would be enough for
both. The young people were already
both eager for union, and would not
much suspense be avoided by consent
ing to their marriage at once? For
her own part, she added with arch sig
nifcance, she should not very much
regret if such fortunate and conye-
nient event were TO render it unneces-
sary for her to exile herself to foreign
parts for the next year OF two, II not
q longer.
There was potency in these last
words. Mr.. Paul Hinton was iustiiia-
bly, alarmed by.th suggestion that 1t
might be necessary for the client to
exile herself for the next year or two,
if not longer. To bis mind it meant
bis losing her forever and in the pres
ent state of his feelings Mr. Hinton was
ready to 90 anything in the world
rather than run that risk.
The lady S arguments prevailed. Mr..
Hinton, like man Of business and
IN eager lover, resolved to have the
matter settled at once the sooner 1t
was over the nearer he should be to
his own happiness.
Polly be said to Lis daughter as
she left the table after dinner, "come
to nv study in Lali an hour BY the
way. do you know if Hammond still
lives at the same address -
q suppose 50, papa, sad Holy,
with red face.
Come to me in half on hour."
She LEFT the diuing-ro1m, and duriD
fine interval frightened herself with tie
thought that there was going to 'ue
claw" between her lover aAd h.i
father. As soon as the door closed VI.
Hinton wrote telegram and sent olt d
servant to dispatch 1t.
Polly sat in the drawingroom with
her eyes on the ornamental clock tia,
stood on the Inantelpiece, mechanically
counting the minutes and flied with
fancics. As the half hour struck she
rose TO 20 to her father; bat at the
same moment q servant appeared at the
door to say that Mr.. Hinton wished her
TO wait few minutes longer until ne
sent for her. She sat down again and
waited, full Of the sense that "some-
thing" was going to happen,
Alter the lapse Of another half hour,
spent by Polly in state Of nervous
suspense, cab stopped at the door and
the bell rang. At tins moment It straca
her that the visitor Was the client, ans
that she (Polly) WAS about to be re-
quired to make her submission to that
terrible lady. Tho visitor was admit
ted and shown into the study. In a
short time the summons came, ana
Polly, holding he breath and feeling
sbaky about the knees, oheyed it.
Opening the study door she immc-
diatelv uttered a little cry. There
stood before her, not the client, bat
Dick Hammond. ooh Dick u she
exclai1u d, in bewildermeut.
Mr.. Paul Hinton behaved we'll. HC
bad been brought 10 this against rs
will; but now that be consented, h
did SO with Lis natural gcnialty.
"Polly," he said. Standing mp, "ano
you. sir-both Of you-come near t.
me-"
Mr. Hammond, wholly uaablshed by
the circumstances put his arm ia al
, easy, affectionate, proprietary inanneI
round Polly and led her over TO hei
father. Polly to this day has no cleal
recollections OF what happened beyon
; being twice kissed mot by the sam
. person. and held closely ~ her lover
But she remembered ever aiterWAr,
| these words being spoken:
! For this, ny children, You hav'
wholly to thank that best and mos
. alm-besrted of women, to whom
, am powerless to deny augbt that sh'
, asks. 1t may assist in altering you
opinion of her"
mime is altered" said Dick Ham
, mond, promptly. "She's brick. Th'
agent must have made a mistake
shall see him about it. She is u b.lck
Polly"
Polly, who had been crying, smile,
brightly through her tears.
r Andnov," said Mr.. Hinton, wayin.
, his hand. "you both take yourselves t
the drawing-room and report to III
> within an hour the date upon which !
is to take place"
Mr.. Hammond was so deeply move
? by Mr.. Hinton's propriety OF behayio
on the occasion that he resolved 10 b
, | generous. He dismissed on the spo
r his intention Of insisting on an extr
ten thousand. Mr.. Hinton had DC
haved well enough to justify it.
t The young couple, with the full ap
. | fraa approvo1 of Mr. Hinton went L